Brayden-Butter & Helicoopter

Boy oh boy, has the Stidolph household changed!

There are days when I feel like I haven't accomplished a thing except feed the babies. Although this does need to be my focus these days, it means that all of my "daily" to-do items turn into "weekly" to-do items, or even "monthly."

The bills get paid in the nick of time, the garbage finally gets taken out when it's overflowing, and the clean laundry piles find their near-permanent home on the couch. It may sound worse than it actually is though because I've had plenty of help these past 8 weeks. Most days it just feels like things don't get done because I can't find time to do them ... however, somehow the boys' super-grandmas find the time to help with the laundry, fix meals, sweep the floors, feed the animals, and even change diapers too.

Which allows me to "sleep when the babies are sleeping."

... This is only one of the many one-liners of advice this mommy hears from her helpers. I also get, "Eat before your food gets cold!" .. "Sleep fast and furious!" .. "Here, drink some more water." .. "Grab the moments when they come." .. "Go shower .. QUICK!"

We are fortunate that Brayden & Cooper are good babies. They generally only reeeeally cry if they're hungry (they have both perfected the pouty face). Brayden fusses occasionally, usually when he's gassy or when he's fighting sleep, but it's nothing a little "pacifying" won't settle. Cooper is pretty much just happy-go-lucky.

They're doing pretty well in the night now. They are going longer stretches between feedings (4 - 5 hours) and usually going back to sleep with no real problem. The only real problem comes along when Brayden won't burp ... and he won't burp ... and he won't burp ... and he just will NOT burp! Grandma Lora claims he keeps his burps in his toes. Cooper on the other hand gives a ear-ringing belch as soon as he's lifted to your shoulder. It has become one of the most satisfying sounds of my newfound motherhood.

Both are beginning to interact quite a bit more ... smiling, cooing. I took a video the other day of what sounded like the boys talking to each other on their play mat :)

Brayden-Butter (like bread n butter) is Brayden's new nickname, compliments from his daddy. We find it rather humorous because Brayden is our big eater and is already weighing in at 11 lb 4 oz! Helicoopter is compliments from his mommy - Cooper often gets his little legs a-twirling in the air when he wakes up hungry, which looks like helicopter propellers! He hasn't been wasting any time growing either, now weighing in at 10 lb!

Also, they are 8 weeks old today!! Happy 8 weeks boys :)

*YAWN* ok, sleep while babies are sleeping sounds like a good idea.

~ here are some recent pictures of the munchkins ~